Chapter 10: A Dark and Windy Night

 

“Exchange?“

 

Su Jingzhen loved fair trades.

 

However, he was puzzled about what he had that Shuang Jiang would be interested in.

 

Was it just his handsome face and strong physique?

 

Su Jingzhen was still thinking about what valuable things he had.

 

Shuang Jiang directly spoke up, “Alchemy is simply about combining the energies within the medicinal materials to maximize their effects, making them more suitable for cultivators to absorb…”

 

She hadn’t even mentioned her own requirements yet, but had already shared her knowledge of alchemy.

 

Su Jingzhen immediately discarded his distracting thoughts and focused on remembering and internalizing the information.

 

His mind was now clear, and he was extremely thirsty for this knowledge.

 

Even though Shuang Jiang’s explanation was scattered and superficial, it was still a treasure trove for Su Jingzhen.

 

Shuang Jiang quickly finished speaking, and Su Jingzhen entered a special state.

 

It was as if he had suddenly enlightened.

 

“Is he enlightened?”

 

“Could it be that I have a talent for teaching and guiding, or is his alchemy talent too strong?”

 

Shuang Jiang’s expression was slightly surprised, but she didn’t disturb Su Jingzhen at this time.

 

She silently returned to her stone bed and began to meditate.

 

Time flew by, and soon it was deep into the night.

 

The academy was quiet and still.

 

Su Jingzhen was still in that state, unaware of his surroundings.

 

“The longer the enlightenment, the more gains. The alchemy knowledge I just shared wasn’t that impressive, was it?”

 

Shuang Jiang muttered to herself, her curiosity growing.

 

She still didn’t choose to disturb him, but her eyebrows suddenly furrowed.

 

She walked to the window and closed the small gap in the windowpane.

 

“A dark and windy night, a perfect time for murder and arson.”

 

“This little Qi-refining beginner is really being targeted.”

 

Shuang Jiang muttered to herself, gazing out the window, but didn’t do anything else.

 

She silently guarded the quiet room.

 

But the commotion outside didn’t spread to this place.

 

It wasn’t until an hour later that Su Jingzhen finally woke up from his previous state.

 

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of bright, star-like eyes staring at him.

 

“Did you understand?” Shuang Jiang asked with a hint of seriousness.

 

Su Jingzhen immediately stood up and bowed to Shuang Jiang.

 

“Thank you, Miss. If I successfully refine the Qi-replenishing pill, no matter how many spirit stones I sell it for, I’ll give you half of the profit!”

 

Su Jingzhen spoke with utmost sincerity.

 

Shuang Jiang, however, was taken aback again, her expressionless face nodding slightly.

 

In her mind, she thought, “This guy is really stupid, but kind of cute…”

 

As she thought this, Su Jingzhen’s eyes flashed with golden text again.

 

【Empathy +2】

 

【Remaining usable points: 51】

 

Su Jingzhen was stunned for a moment, but didn’t show any reaction.

 

Before he could say anything, Shuang Jiang spoke up again, “You don’t need to thank me yet. I’m just making a trade with you.”

 

Su Jingzhen felt a bit tense: “I don’t know what else I can offer you, Miss Shuang Jiang.”

 

At this time, he really felt that he had nothing to offer except his handsome face.

 

“I’m interested in the things you taught those children. I want a copy of everything you’ve taught them. Is that too much to ask?”

 

As Shuang Jiang spoke, her tone was calm, but her heart was filled with anticipation.

 

In the past, she had never lacked anything, and when she needed something, she would simply take it or ask for it.

 

This situation was unprecedented for her.

 

Su Jingzhen was stunned.

 

He knew the origins of those things too well.

 

Whether it was the Tao Te Ching or the works of Laozi and Guiguzi, they were all crystallizations of ancient wisdom from Earth.

 

Those things were inherently mysterious and profound.

 

In his opinion, Shuang Jiang’s strength was above the Foundation Establishment stage, and even the Golden Core stage.

 

If such a strong cultivator was interested in these things, did it mean that they were actually helpful for cultivation?

 

Su Jingzhen, who had lived two lives, was extremely intelligent and had always thought that the children he taught were just lucky.

 

But now, with Shuang Jiang’s casual question, he had a different perspective.

 

In the small town of Linjiang City, no one paid attention, but perhaps it was better not to take these things out casually in the future.

 

“What? Is that  difficult? But don’t forget, you’ve already received my payment.”

 

Shuang Jiang’s eyes had a hint of cunning.

 

Her understanding of alchemy might only be superficial, but it had indeed helped Su Jingzhen to enlighten.

 

She didn’t care how much he had understood, but since there was already a corresponding cause, she wasn’t afraid that Su Jingzhen wouldn’t repay her.

 

Su Jingzhen came back to his senses and smiled, “Miss Shuang Jiang, are you sure you only want this?”

 

Shuang Jiang coldly laughed, “Or do you have something else?”

 

Su Jingzhen awkwardly scratched his head, not daring to say that he was afraid of death.

 

“This is simple.”

 

Su Jingzhen then pulled out two books from a corner of the quiet room.

 

The books had no titles, but they were all classics and “knowledge” that he had copied down from memory, including the famous quotes and debates he had with others before crossing over.

 

He had copied them down to help with memorization and to impress others.

 

Otherwise, he would have forgotten them over time.

 

He didn’t expect them to come in handy now.

 

Su Jingzhen handed them over to Shuang Jiang.

 

There was no need to be sentimental about it.

 

Although he knew that this knowledge might be extraordinary in the cultivation world, he was clear that he had to give them to Shuang Jiang.

 

After all, she was his benefactor, and if he treated her well, not only would he gain points, but she might also become a powerful ally when her cultivation recovered.

 

Most importantly, he couldn’t afford to offend her.

 

Shuang Jiang eagerly flipped through the books, immediately drawn in by the content.

 

But her excitement didn’t show on her face.

 

Instead, it showed up in the points.

 

【Empathy +2】

 

【Empathy +2】

 

【Empathy +2】

 

The flashing golden text directly exposed Shuang Jiang’s inner turmoil.

 

But it also left Su Jingzhen stunned.

 

Was it really that easy?

 

He had gained 6 points, leaving him with 57 remaining!

 

Shuang Jiang casually flipped through a few more pages before forcing herself to stop reading and put the books away.

 

It seemed like she didn’t want Su Jingzhen to see how much she valued these things.

 

Shuang Jiang asked calmly, “It seems like you couldn’t have written these yourself, right?”

 

She was probing!

 

Su Jingzhen had anticipated this and had prepared a response. He asked with feigned curiosity, “Are these powerful cultivation methods?”

 

“To be honest, I stumbled upon them on Qingfeng Mountain. The contents are profound and abstruse, and I used them to impress my students, but I don’t really understand them myself.”

 

“I even asked sister-in-law Zhang Xiu, and she couldn’t understand them either, so we just ignored them.”

 

Shuang Jiang thought to herself, “These principles of Dao are unprecedented, and I couldn’t comprehend them even after a long time. If these Qi-refining, Foundation Establishment cultivators could understand them, that would be truly bizarre.”

 

However, she didn’t doubt Su Jingzhen’s words.

 

It was common for treasures to fall into the hands of ordinary people and be overlooked in the cultivation world.

 

If Su Jingzhen had claimed to have comprehended and summarized them himself, she would have thought he was possessed.

 

Shuang Jiang could only sigh and attribute it to her good luck.

 

However, she was still a bit naive.

 

She hadn’t noticed that if these two books were indeed picked up, would the writing on them be still too fresh?